Block for Mary

I had fun piecing this, thanks to Mary's vellum, Tara's cutting map and Jackie's excellent tutorial!

Still, it seems like it came out a little lop-sided.  I may have cut one of the square blocks on the wrong line??  I've tried and tried to figure it out with no success.  I ended up re-sewing the 4 blocks together in a different way.   I'll go ahead and send it.  Mary, maybe you can figure out where I went wrong.  If you send more fabric and vellums, I'll be happy to do it over again!    

Spinning Geese

Hi Mary,
Here is my blog for you! This was fun to work on! I hope you like it and that I did okay. Thanks for the extra fabric. It was just the ticket! I can't wait to see how you finish this one! This will go out in the mail next week.

Stephanie

Mary's geese

 Here you go!  It'll go in the mail on Monday!

 

February's Block

Hello Everyone,

First let me say that Mary and I did NOT coordinate with one another about our blocks... LOL!  When I saw Mary's come through, I thought "wow everyone is going to be able to do flying geese in their sleep!"

Anyway, this is for me and it is February's block.  

I am sure that you hadn't guessed that I might do something with paper piecing, right?

I did a very intensive tutorial on my blog today about this block, in particular, and how to paper piece it.  You can find the tutorial by clicking here, and it will also remain in my left sidebar under the Tutorial Section entitled Paper Piecing Tutorials.  You can always find it there for future reference.

I will be sending everyone's packets out on Monday.  I am almost done getting them ready.  I will be providing the background fabric and I would love for you to provide the red fabrics.  If you have 12 different reds for 12 different geese that would be fantastic!  I also included the template to cut the red flying geese!  The scrappier the better!  If you need some reds send me an e-mail and I will include some in your packet.

Oh, please do NOT join each individual section together. Each section is 6.5"when trimmed. Just send the 4 sections separately so that I can play!

As you can tell, I kind of like wilder prints.  If you have them great, if not, no worries.

As always, should you have any questions send me an e-mail or call.  Thanks in advance for all your hard work!  

Mary, your blocks are slightly delayed and will be heading out next week!

Until Next Time...

geese!

I was able to get my circle of geese quilt block done yesterday. This may be my best paper pieced block to date. Tara filled me in on all the tips and tricks that were shared here on the blog and some of her own from personal experience, too. Thank you, Tara! I was hesitant to cut out the shapes by templates, thinking it would be uber confusing (paper piecing is tricky enough to start with), but I learned that it actually helped a ton. I hate wasting fabric, so this was a great solution for saving fabric while paper piecing. Woo-hoo!

I added 3/8" seam allowance to all the pieces of the templates, then fit them together like a puzzle before cutting them out. In a few hours my block was completed!

Mary, I popped it in the mail today. And I left the trimming to you. :)

I'm Flying!

My Flying Geese went better than I expected. Always have trouble with paper piecing, but was helped by cutting the shapes beforehand. Thanks for the tip!

Playing Catch Up

Hello, ladies,

I hope everyone had a good holiday season! I've had a couple of these blocks done for weeks now, and yet haven't managed to mail them. I'm so very sorry!

 

First up we have Jessica's HST's  Lovely, easy, and Done!

 Next up are Helen's Snowballs.  I have a bit of confusion as to if I was supposed to sew these four blocks together after seeing everyone else's posts, so I can unpick these seams if you would like!  I did use all different red fabrics, though so it is scrappy!

 And then, last, but certainly not least, is Shelly's block of torment.  Just kidding, kind of.  You should know that until I started this block, I hadn't done a stitch of applique.  And never planned on trying.  I've been practicing on some scrap fabric, and I would like to think that my skills have improved enough for me to jump into this for real, but your opinion matters, Shelly.  Let me know if you think I need more practice.

 It is straighter than the picture shows.  This piece of fabric was beautifully pressed until I started holding it in a death grip while stitching.

 And a close up.  Are these stitches too visible?  I feel like it looks like a really big, red millipede.  Any advice?

 

 So, Mary's block is up next and I'm very excited!  I so appreciate the extention of time on your part, Shelly, and the patience on the part of Jessica and Helen, as well.  

The thing about bees for me is that I want to put my absolute best work out there.  I'm very happy to be a part of this group and will try to mail in a more timely manner! 

Working on Mary's Block

Gang,

I have to share with you what happened to me today. I decided to start working on Mary's block. I really enjoy paper piecing. I loved Mary's suggestion (and still do) of making a paper template of the pieces for the block. I decided to do that. I cut up a paper pattern, and I folded the fabric in four layers. I laid out the pieces on the appropriate colors, and I cut them out roughly. I tend to add a generous amount when cutting out shapes for paper piecing, because the funny angles can be deceiving about how much fabric you need. I decided I'd cut them all out and put piece #1 in a sandwich bag along with the pattern piece, #2 in another bag along with the pattern piece, etc. I started putting the pieces in the plastic bags.

That's when I saw piece #9 sitting on the table with no red fabric to go with it.

My first thought (after, "NO!"....) was, "Sh**! I already cut up all the red fabric."

Yep. Had to e-mail Mary and beg her for a little more fabric. (I felt like Oliver Twist...."Please, sir. May I have a little more?") LOL.

All I need is to cut out four of piece #9.

Mary was so gracious and is going to send it to me. How embarrassing.

Gang, I am really not totally inept. Promise!

I did sew one of the blocks, all for piece #9. It went together great. So, the strategy of precutting really worked great for me. Just make sure you get all the pieces laid out before you cut! haha! (And do cut generously, too! I cut at least 1/2" extra on all sides.) Having the pieces in plastic bags is a huge help. I use one out of the first bag, move it to a new pile, come back to the table after sewing, pull one from the second bag, etc. Really smooth.

I haven't used the vellum before for paper piecing. It's sweet. I think that will make tearing the paper off really easy.

Oh, and I asked Mary what the "extend here" part meant on the pattern piece. She said we should let the fabric "run wild" on that edge....that is, don't trim to the 1/4" line. I imagine it's so she can trim them when they are all done so they are the exact same size. Just thought I'd mention it.

Have fun paper piecing!

Stephanie

More Snowballs!

I finished and took the pic, but then didn't mail or post here, ack! Step one, posting this, step two, in the mail today Helen! This quilt is gonna be fabulous.

It's Raining Snowballs!

I finished these some time ago, and I believe Helen already has them in her possession. I just never took the time yet to show them to you.
I was a bit late, and I didn't even have an excuse such as the one Andrea has!

Helen's quilt is going to be fantastic! Scrappy and wonderful -- I'm excited to see it finished, Helen.

Snowballs for Helen

I finished my snowballs for Helen last week and dropped them in the mail. But it's been a crazy hectic week, so I haven't had a chance to blog them yet. Helen, I hope you've received these already. They were fun to sew. Hope you like them!

Well, I am now caught up! Yippee! Now, let's hope I can keep it that way, Mary! Thanks for your patience, ladies!

Still having fun with this!
Stephanie

This sweet pea joined our family in November. 

We love having her with us, but it has put a bit of a crimp on my sewing time.  I'm still adjusting to life as a mama first, a quilter (and everything else) second.  Thank you to the lovely ladies who were so patient on their blocks while I trained my new sewing assistant.

Can't wait to see Jessica's quilt for her son all finished!  What a great departure from our red and whites.  Here's my contribution to the cause.

Sewing snowballs was a perfect winter activity!  They're on their way Helen!

And finally....it looks like I'm the only one who is taking seriously Shelly's  generously extended timeline on your appliqué block.  It's up next!

Happy quilting in the new year all!